The Relationship between Mineral Type and Density (g/ml)
Purpose/Introduction:
The purpose of this lab was to understand the relationship between minerals and density, the ratio of mass to volume, particularly, how density can be used to identify mineral type. In the lab, two samples of the mineral, feldspar, were measured for mass and volume in order to calculate their density. Many of the mineral tests yielded qualitative data, such as color, streak, luster, and crystal shape, which can be subjective. Other tests produced quantitative data, whose outcome of density is measured the same by anyone. Mineral density is determined by the specific chemical compound, because the mass and volume are dependent on the weight of the atoms. In this …show more content…
Materials:
• 2 unknown mineral samples o Mineral A o Mineral B
• 10ml Graduated Cylinder
• 100ml Graduated Cylinder
• Quadruple Beam Suspension Balance
• Overflow Canister
• Water
• Paper Towel(s)
Procedure: First, the quadruple beam suspension balance was calibrated. Next, using the balance, Mineral A’s mass was measured. After that, Mineral A’s volume was measured using, in succession, the overflow canister, 100ml graduated cylinder, and 10ml graduated cylinder. Mineral A was dried using a paper towel. Then, Mineral A’s density was calculated by dividing its mass by its volume. These steps were repeated two more times for each sample, resulting in three trials for each.
Safety:
• Hair tied back to prevent interference with or entanglement in materials
• Goggles worn in case of glass breakage
• Close-toed shoes worn in case of glass breakage
Data:
The Mass(g) and Volume(ml) of Mystery Minerals
Mineral …show more content…
In the lab, precision, proximity to other experimental values, and accuracy, and proximity to the scientific value were illustrated through the line graph and the Percent Error calculations, the line graph depicting precision and the Percent Error calculations for accuracy. The line graph indicates the lack of precision in this lab, as the class data points were sporadic and distant from each other. The Percent Error calculations portrayed lack of accuracy, as Mineral A and B were the same, but Percent Error showed a discrepancy of 3.2.
Discrepancies between the experimental and theoretical values for Mineral A and B were due to sources of error. Three of the recorded sources of error include: the scientist bumped into the quadruple beam suspension balance, disturbing its calibration; all the overflow was not caught in the graduated cylinder, displacing the volume and skewing the density values; and all the water from the graduated cylinder was not emptied before the next trial, thus also skewing the volume and density
Purpose/Introduction:
The purpose of this lab was to understand the relationship between minerals and density, the ratio of mass to volume, particularly, how density can be used to identify mineral type. In the lab, two samples of the mineral, feldspar, were measured for mass and volume in order to calculate their density. Many of the mineral tests yielded qualitative data, such as color, streak, luster, and crystal shape, which can be subjective. Other tests produced quantitative data, whose outcome of density is measured the same by anyone. Mineral density is determined by the specific chemical compound, because the mass and volume are dependent on the weight of the atoms. In this …show more content…
Materials:
• 2 unknown mineral samples o Mineral A o Mineral B
• 10ml Graduated Cylinder
• 100ml Graduated Cylinder
• Quadruple Beam Suspension Balance
• Overflow Canister
• Water
• Paper Towel(s)
Procedure: First, the quadruple beam suspension balance was calibrated. Next, using the balance, Mineral A’s mass was measured. After that, Mineral A’s volume was measured using, in succession, the overflow canister, 100ml graduated cylinder, and 10ml graduated cylinder. Mineral A was dried using a paper towel. Then, Mineral A’s density was calculated by dividing its mass by its volume. These steps were repeated two more times for each sample, resulting in three trials for each.
Safety:
• Hair tied back to prevent interference with or entanglement in materials
• Goggles worn in case of glass breakage
• Close-toed shoes worn in case of glass breakage
Data:
The Mass(g) and Volume(ml) of Mystery Minerals
Mineral …show more content…
In the lab, precision, proximity to other experimental values, and accuracy, and proximity to the scientific value were illustrated through the line graph and the Percent Error calculations, the line graph depicting precision and the Percent Error calculations for accuracy. The line graph indicates the lack of precision in this lab, as the class data points were sporadic and distant from each other. The Percent Error calculations portrayed lack of accuracy, as Mineral A and B were the same, but Percent Error showed a discrepancy of 3.2.
Discrepancies between the experimental and theoretical values for Mineral A and B were due to sources of error. Three of the recorded sources of error include: the scientist bumped into the quadruple beam suspension balance, disturbing its calibration; all the overflow was not caught in the graduated cylinder, displacing the volume and skewing the density values; and all the water from the graduated cylinder was not emptied before the next trial, thus also skewing the volume and density